Are we doing any better? HSP Postgraduate Course November 21, 2013 - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

HEPATIC ENCEPHALOPATHY Are we doing any better? HSP Postgraduate Course November 21, 2013 Radisson Blu Hotel Cebu City Evelyn B. Dy, M.D.

Practice Guidelines ACG 2001

HEPATIC ENCEPHALOPATHY DEFINITION PATHOGENESIS CLINICAL FEATURES TREATMENT

HEPATIC ENCEPHALOPATHY Spectrum of neuropsychiatric abnormalities: impairment of sleep-wake cycle, cognition, memory, consciousness, motor-sensory function. Patients with liver dysfunction. After exclusion of metabolic, infectious, intravascular or space-occupying lesion.

SUBTYPES OF HEPATIC ENCEPHALOPATHY

PATHOGENESIS Ammonia Hypothesis GABA Hypothesis Neurotoxins Acetylcholinesterase Hyponatremia Astrocyte swelling and dysfunction

AMMONIA HYPOTHESIS

NH3 • Produced by degradation of AA amines in the GIT • Enterocyte convert gluatamine to glutamate and NH3 by glutaminase NH3 detoxified by the liver by conversion to urea Kreb's cycle

Cirrhosis: NH3 is due to functioning of hepatocytes Portosystemic shunting divert NH3 to the systemic circulation Skeletal muscle contains glutamine synthetase which helps consume NH3 by converting glutamate to glutamine Temporary means of detoxifying NH3 The kidneys can both produce ammonia thru glutamine and excrete ammonia as NH4 thru glutamine synthetase. • In Acidosis: NH4 is released in the urine. • In Alkalosis: decreased loss of NH4 in the urine.

GABA HYPOTHESIS Gamma Butyric Acid (GABA) • Neuroinhibitory substance produced in the GIT • GABA receptor complex contains binding sites for GABA, Benzodiazepines. - permit influx of chloride ions into the postsynaptic neuron generating inhibitory postsynaptic potential

NEUROTOXINS ACCUMULATION HYPOTHESIS Ammonia, Manganese, False transmitters, Short chain fatty acids production of peripheral type benzodiazepine receptor (PTBR) or 18-kda translocator protein (TSPO) Stimulates conversion of cholesterol to pregnenolone to neurosteroids Binds to gamma receptor complex increasing inhibitory neurotransmissions

ACETYLCHOLINESTERAS E HYPOTHESIS Acetylcholinesterase results to Acetylcholine which is a neurotransmitter at the neuromuscular junction

ASTROCYTE SWELLING and DYSFUNCTION Astrocyte • Key role in the regulation of blood brain barrier • Maintain electrolyte homeostasis • Provide nutrients and neurotransmitter precursors to neurons

ALZHEIMER TYPE 2 ASTROCYTOSIS Large pale nucleus, prominent nucleolus Leads to neuronal edema Neuronal dysfunction

HYPONATREMIA - "Second Hit" Causes depletion of astrocyte osmolytes • Cells cannot compensate well during period of hyperammonemia or inflammation Astrocyte swelling, cerebral edema, oxidative and nitrosative and astrocyte dysfunction.

PATHOPHYSIOLOGY of HEPATIC ENCEPHALOPATHY

CLINICAL FEATURES: West- Haven Criteria

CLINICAL FEATURES Covert hepatic encephalopathy Stage 0-1 (Minimal hepatic encephalopathy) Overt hepatic Stage 2-4 encephalopathy

COVERT HEPATIC ENCEPHALOPATHY Low level cognitive dysfunction in 70% of patients with cirrhosis Decrease attention and executive dysfunction Depressed psychomotor speed and visuomotor activity Delayed choice reactive time Impaired fitness to drive

DIAGNOSIS OF COVERT HEPATIC ENCEPHALOPATHY

NEW TESTS FOR DIAGNOSIS OF CHE A.Inhibitory Control Test (ICT) Sensitivity 87%, specificity 77% • http//www.hecme.tv. (HEcme TV Website) • B.CNS Vital Signs (CNSVS) Sensitivity 85%, specificity 64% • http://www.cnsvs.com (CNSVS Website) • Presented at DDW 2012 •

TREATMENT STRATEGIES for HEPATIC ENCEPHALOPATHY 1. Management of precipitating factors. 2. Reduction of NH3 and other toxins. 3. Modulation of fecal flora. 4. Modulation of neurotransmission. 5. Correction of nutritional deficiencies. 6. Reduction of inflammation. 7. Molecular adsorbent recirculating system (MARS Gambro) - liver dialysis

PRECIPITATING FACTORS

MANAGEMENT OF PRECIPITATING FACTORS Hepatic encephalopathy is usually precipitated by an event. Careful history and physical examination are required to identify less dramatic and contributing cause.

REDUCTION of NH3 and OTHER TOXINS 1. Non-absorbable dissacharide (Lactulose) Mechanism of action • Cathartic • Acidification of gut lumen favors conversion of NH3 to nH4 ion • Reduction of urease producing bacteria (Prebiotic)

Cirrhosis • 30-45% Overt HE (Annual risk 20%) • 60-80% Covert HE

EFFECTS of LACTULOSE vs NO TREATMENT in CIRRHOTICS WITHOUT ANY EPISODE OF OVERT HE Number of Overt HE Percentage Patients 55 with 6 11 Lactulose 50 w/o 15 30 Lactulose 66% of the covert hepatic encephalopathy in the Lactulose group showed improvement. Followed monthly for 12 months Agrawal et al. Primary prophylaxis of encephalopathy in patients with cirrhosis: An open-labeled randomized controlled trial of lactulose vs no lactulose. J. Hepatol 2012.

SECONDARY PROPHYLACTIC THERAPY FOR PREVENTION OF OHE IN CIRRHOTIC PATIENTS WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED AN OHE EPISODE

REDUCTION of NH3 and OTHER TOXINS 2. NH3 Scavengers a. L-ornithine L-aspartate (LOLA) - substrate for glutamate transaminase which results in increase glutamate levels. Glutamate with NH3 produce glutamine in the presence of glutamine synthetase. b. L-ornithine, Phenylacetate (LOPA) - increase supply of ornithine to the urea cycle

c. Sodium benzoate, Sodium phenylbutyrate, Sodium phenylacetate, Glycerol phenylbutyrate • Sodium benzoate interacts with glycine to form hippurate excretion of hippurate leading to NH3 loss. - limited by risk of sodium overload • Sodium phenylbutyrate is converted to phenylacetate reacts with glutamine to form phenylacetylglutamine excreted in urine with loss of NH3 ions

• Sodium phenylbutyrate (Buphenyl) • IV Sodium phenylacetate (Ammonul) • Glycerol phenylbutyrate (Ravicti) - FDA approved for treatment of hyperammonemia associated with urea cycle disorders

d. Zinc • Increase activity of ornithine transcarbamylase, an enzyme in urea cycle • Zinc sulfate or Zinc acetate 600 mg/day

e. L-carnitine • Improved HE symptoms in several studies • Decrease brain NH3 uptake

f. AST-120 (OCERA) • Spherical carbon adsorbent • Adsorbs small molecules not only NH3, but also Liposaccharides, and Cytokines. • Pilot study: Efficacy equivalent with Lactulose • Large study recently completed.

MODULATION of FECAL FLORA 1. ANTIBIOTICS • decrease concentration of ammoniagenic bacteria A. Neomycin, Metronidazole, Paromomycin, Vancomycin limitation in safety and resistance (ototoxicity, nephrotoxicity, neurotoxicity) • B. Rifaximin • poorly absorbed relative of Rifamycin • broad antibacterial activity for aerobes and anaerobes • approved by US FDA for hepatic encephalopathy

SECONDARY PROPHYLACTIC THERAPY FOR PATIENT IN REMISSION FOR OVERT HEPATIC ENCEPHALOPATHY Randomized double blind study: Rifaximin 555 mg BID vs Placebo Percentage Number of of Patients Number of Patients Who Who Patients Developed HE Developed HE Rifaximi 140 31 22.1% n Placebo 159 73 45.9%

2. Prebiotics (Lactulose, Fermentable fibers) Probiotics (Bifidobacteria, Lactobacilli) • Reduce urease-producing species • Improved overall liver function • Reduced translocation of bacteria (Endotoxemia) by ameliorating hyperdynamic circulation

3. Acarbose (Alpha-Glucosidase Inhibitor) • Reduce glucose absorption, promotes primarily saccharolytic bacteria reducing NH3 generation. • Double-blind randomized trial among DM patients with mild HE showed improvement in number connection test and HE grading.

MODULATIONS of NEUROTRANSMISSION Drugs Used to Target Altered Neurotransmission Flumazenil Used when benzodiazepine is trigger factor Naloxone Bromocriptine Levodopa Acetylcholinesterase inhibitor Rivastigmine pilot study showed some benefit

CORRECTION of NUTRITIONAL DEFICIENCIES Factors Involved in Poor Nutrition • Poor Dietary Absorption (Fat soluble vitamins) • Poor Intake (Weakness, ascites) • Baseline Hypercatabolic State • Zinc Deficiency • Skeletal Muscle Depletion

CORRECTION of NUTRITIONAL DEFICIENCIES Daily Protein Intake: 1.0-1.5 g/kg/day depending on the degree of hepatic decompensation • ESPEN Guidelines 1997 Branched-chain Amino Acids • Prevents synthesis of false neurotransmitters • Corrects Fischer's ratio balance between AAA and BCAA • Reduces catabolism and muscle breakdown

Zinc Supplementation • Zinc - cofactor in the urea cycle L-ornithine L-aspartate/L-ornithine phenylacetate L-carnitine or its acetylated form

REDUCTION of INFLAMMATION Cirrhotics are in a proinflammatory state • Increase levels of endotoxin, tumor necrosis factor, cytokines Antibiotics improved hyperdynamic circulation of cirrhosis; reduced the risk of hepatorenal syndrome

POTENTIAL DRUGS with ANTI-INFLAMMATORY ROLE Pentoxyfylline : anti-TNF alpha activity reduce complication of cirrhosis and hepatic encephalopathy AST-120: bind small molecule in the gut, TNF lipopolysaccharide and endotoxin

REVERSIBILITY of HEPATIC ENCEPHALOPATHY " Those who recovered from an episode of overt hepatic encephalopathy appeared to improve with drug therapy with no residual neurocognitive impairment" - This statement has been challenged.